Imphal: Prime minister Narendra Modi said that expert assessments suggest that India’s seas may hold substantial reserves of oil and gas. The Prime Minister also mentioned the launch of the National Deepwater Exploration Mission.
The Prime Minister inaugurated the Assam Bioethanol Plant and laid foundation stone for the polypropylene plant at Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) at Golaghat in Assam.
He announced that projects worth approximately Rs 18,000 crore have been allocated to Assam. He noted that earlier in the day, he was in Darrang where he laid the foundation stones for connectivity and health-related projects.
He further added that in the current location, he has inaugurated and laid the foundation for energy security-related projects, which will further strengthen Assam’s path to development.
“India is currently the fastest-growing major economy in the world”, stated the PM, remarking that as the country progresses, the demand for electricity, gas, and fuel is also rising. India has long been dependent on foreign sources for these energy needs, importing large quantities of crude oil and gas. As a result, the nation has had to pay lakhs of crores of rupees annually to other countries, which in turn boosts employment and income abroad.
Modi emphasized that this situation needed to be changed. He affirmed that India has now embarked on the path of becoming self-reliant in meeting its energy requirements.India is simultaneously working on discovering new reserves of crude oil and gas within the country while also enhancing its green energy capabilities, Modi recalled his announcement from the Red Fort regarding the ‘Samudra Manthan’ initiative. He highlighted expert assessments suggesting that India’s seas may hold substantial reserves of oil and gas. To ensure these resources are harnessed for national development, the Prime Minister also mentioned the launch of the National Deepwater Exploration Mission.The Prime Minister also highlighted that India is making rapid strides in the field of green energy and renewable power generation. He remarked that a decade ago, India lagged significantly in solar power production. However, today, India ranks among the top five countries globally in solar energy capacity.
“In the changing times, India requires alternative fuels to reduce dependence on oil and gas”, emphasised the PM, highlighting ethanol as one such viable option. He informed that a new plant producing ethanol from bamboo has been inaugurated today and emphasized that this initiative will greatly benefit farmers and tribal communities in Assam.
Stating that arrangements are being made to ensure a steady supply of bamboo for operating the bio-ethanol plant, Modi highlighted that the government will support local farmers in cultivating bamboo and will also procure it directly. He informed that small units related to bamboo chipping will be established in the region. The Prime Minister announced that approximately Rs 200 crore will be spent annually in this sector. He emphasized that this single plant would benefit thousands of people in the area.
Underlining that India is now producing ethanol from bamboo, the Prime Minister reminded the public of the earlier times when, under the opposition-led government, cutting bamboo could lead to imprisonment. He emphasized that bamboo, an integral part of daily life for tribal communities, was subject to restrictions. Modi highlighted that the current government removed the ban on bamboo cutting, and this decision is now delivering substantial benefits to the people of the Northeast.
Modi announced that Assam has received the gift of a modern polypropylene plant. He stated that this plant will strengthen the foundation of ‘Make in Assam’ and ‘Make in India’ and will also boost other manufacturing industries in the region.
Modi expressed strong confidence in Assam’s capabilities and said that the state has been chosen for a major national initiative—the Semiconductor Mission. He explained that his trust in Assam stems from its proven potential, citing how Assam Tea, once relatively unknown during colonial times, was transformed into a global brand by the land and people of Assam. The PM emphasized that in this new era, India’s self-reliance depends on two critical sectors: energy and semiconductors, and Assam is playing a vital role in both.
The Prime Minister said that from bank cards and mobile phones to cars, aircraft, and space missions, the core of every electronic device lies in a small electronic chip. He emphasized that if India aims to manufacture these products domestically, it must also produce its own chips. To achieve this, India has launched the Semiconductor Mission, with Assam serving as a major foundation for this initiative. A semiconductor factory is rapidly being constructed in Morigaon, with an investment of Rs 27,000 crore.
